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NASCAR Driver Jeremy Clements Suspended For Racial Remark

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By , Fri, March 1, 2013

NASCAR driver Jeremy Clements is on indefinite suspension after making a racial remark in front of two other people. The statement was not recorded and Clements has remained vague on what he actually said. The comment was made offhand as he was showing a NASCAR official and MTV reporter the way to fellow driver Johanna Long's hauler.

“When you say 'racial' remark, it wasn't used to describe anybody or anything,” Clements said. “So that's all I'm going to say to that. And it really wasn't. I was describing racing, and the word I used was incorrect and I shouldn't have said it. It shouldn't be used at all.”

Clements will miss at least two races. He violated Sections 7-5 (NASCAR's Code of Conduct) and 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing), reports USA Today. NASCAR will also make him complete sensitivity training before his possible reinstatement.

Since there is no recorded evidence of Clements' remark, it’s not entirely clear how NASCAR became aware of it.

Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations, said in a release:

“During the course of an interview, Jeremy Clements made an intolerable and insensitive remark. NASCAR has a Code of Conduct that's explicitly spelled out in the 2013 NASCAR Rule Book. We fully expect our entire industry to adhere to that Code.”

Clements took to Facebook to offer an apology:

"I apologize and regret what I said to the NASCAR writer and to NASCAR, my sponsors, my fans, and my team. NASCAR has a Code of Conduct that everyone must follow and I unintentionally violated that code. I will not get into specifics of what I said but my comment to the writer was in no way meant to be disrespectful or insensitive to anyone or to be detrimental to NASCAR or the NASCAR Nationwide Series. I will do what I need to do in order to atone for my error in judgment."